Looks like I have run into another problem.... the truck has been running great. I turned it off when I got ti where I was going. Went to leave and it cranked up, but the charge light came on and stayed on. The engine died. So I cranked it again and stayed on the throttle just a little bit. It did not spit or sputter in any way, running smooth. As soon as I let off the throttle it dies. It does not sputter or anything, almost like turning off the key, just instantly dies. So I start heading home. Going down the road I can shift, but if I press the clutch in enough for the engine to get down to idle (like slowing down for a stop sign) it die. The charge light stays on all the while (It never came on prior to this). Any ideas? Alternator? Electrical short maybe? When I got home I checked the battery and it had 12.6 volts. I even put it on charge for a little while and charged it up to 13.4 volts. Did not help any....comments/suggestions?

 

Alternator and/or voltage regulator.

 

check the fuse labeled "engine "first.

 

my 81 has only 70,000k on it and it does this, sorta, anytime i start it, hot or cold the charge light will be on and it wont idle soon as i rev it past 3,000rpm charge light comes off and it idles

 

Even at higher rpm's the light id on. Im gonna pull the alternator and get it tested I guess. Seems like a good starting point anyways.

 

Mine was doing the same . Rev it and the light would go off. It was just the engine fuse. My electric choke is working now also. That fuse being popped was limiting the voltage to the choke.

 

Alternator is putting out 12-13 volts. Replaced the voltage regulator and the problem is still there.....

 

If the engine fuse is ok take it out and clean the terminals. Mine had some corrosion in the fuse block along with a popped fuse. The corrosion was barely noticeable but made my truck do a lot of random stuff.